Even as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)–led Central government remains uncommitted on OBC census, the party’s Maharashtra unit wants constitutional amendment to conduct it on the lines of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.
Former State Energy minister and OBC leader from Vidarbha, Chandrashekhar Bawankule, said on Sunday, “No government since 1950 has carried out OBC census. It is important that it is held. We request Prime Minister Narendra Modi to amend the Constitution and ensure census of the OBCs on the lines of the SCs and STs.” He was speaking at a public meeting in Nagpur district organised by OBC organisations which had invited OBC leaders of all parties including the BJP and the Congress.
The Assembly has already passed a resolution, moved by the then Speaker Nana Patole, recommending OBC census to the Centre. Mr. Patole, who is now State Congress president, also present at the programme and voiced concern about the ongoing privatisation of government companies saying it will end reservations altogether.
